Medium pressure acetylene generator



Aug. 27, 1957 M. OLSON ETAL 3,804,380

MEDIUM PRESSURE ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed June 21, 1954 4 Shets-Sheet 1 NW OAW. RILEW E mo fl TL R N G 0& WN M n mwmm A M 0F. MR .L w

I 'Aug. 27, 1957 M. L. OLSON ET AL MEDIUM PRESSURE ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed June 21, 1954 r 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS MALVEN L. OLSON ROBERT G. IRELAND LEWIS M. COWDEN A ORNEY Filed June 21, 1954 M. L. OLSON ETAL MEDIUM PRESSURE ACETYLENE GENERATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS MALVEN L.0LSON.

ROBERT GJRELAND LEWIS M. COWDEN BY ATTORNEY 1957 M. L. OLSON ETAL 2,80

MEDIUM PRESSURE ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed June 21, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 3 MALVEN L. OLSON 11 Q ROBERT cs. IRELAND 3 v LEWIS M. cowoeu United States MEDIUM PRESSURE ACETYLENE GENERATOR Application June 21, 1954, Serial No. 438,124

6 Claims. (Cl. 48---53.3)

This invention relates to medium pressure acetylene generators of the carbide to water type, adapted for continuous operation, air-free recharging, and of pressure vessel construction.

Objects of the invention are to provide an auxiliary portable charging hopper as a pressure vessel subject to generator pressure in charging the same, to provide a floating mounting for the main carbide feed hopper, to provide a hydraulic weight of contents indicator for the main hopper, to provide an automatic feed valve mechanism within the floating hopper, to provide manual means for lifting the automatic feed valve mechanism relative to the hopper as a carbide shut-off, to provide a resilient feed tube from the floating hopper, to provide float-controlled means for collapsing the resilient tube as an automatic low water carbide shut-off, and to provide a water shut-off piston valve operated by a separate float.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an acetylene generator according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the seal between the charging hopper and the feed hopper;

Fig. 7 is a detail of the automatic feed valve mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a vertical Section taken along the line 8-8 ofFig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the water shut-off piston valve; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical section through the hydraulic back pressure valve.

The generator comprises an auxiliary portable charging hopper A, which is of pressure vessel construction, being subject to generator pressure during recharging. The charging hopper A is connected in pressure-tight relation to the top of a carbide feed hopper B, which has a floating mounting built into the top of the generator water shell G. The floating mounting facilitates the operation of a hydraulic weight type contents indicator W.

The conical bottom of the carbide feed hopper B contains an automatic feed control mechanism C, and is provided with a rubber feed tube T which effects an automatic low water carbide shut-off in conjunction with a float F, which also actuates a water level indicator I. A separate float L controls a water shut-ofl. piston valve P.

A water reservoir R is located high inside the shell G and receives the generated acetylene and passes it to the hydraulic back pressure valve H mounted on the outside of the generator water shell G.

The pressure-tight connection between the charging hopper A and the feeding hopper B is shown in detail in Fig. 6. The charging hopper has a conical bottom provided with an axial spout or socket 10, above which atent ice an inverted conical baflie 12 is supported inside the charging hopper A on legs 13 spaced about the socket 10. A butterfly valve 14 is mounted in the top of the socket 10, and operated by a hand crank 15.

The feeding hopper B has a cover formed by a conical dome 16 which is a part of the generator shell, and converges upward to a carbide charging valve 11 which has a filler plug or cap 17 at the top, provided with guide fingers 18 to receive the socket 10 and center it over the filler plug 17. The socket 10 has spring-pressed pins 19 spaced around its interior, which snap into a groove 20 in the outside of the filler plug 17, and hold it in position with its upper rim engaging a gasket 21 inside the spout 10 in pressure-tight relation.

The feeding hopper B has a conical bottom 22 aligned with the dome 16 and forming therewith a hopper chamber. The hopper bottom has a three-point support or suspension as shown in Fig. 3. Two of these supports are of the construction shown in Fig. 5, and each comprise a pin 23 rigidly secured to the inside of the generator shell G and engaging a socket 24 in the inside of a flange ring 25 secured to the rim of the hopper bottom 22. A resilient annular diaphragm 26 having its outer margin secured between respective flanges on the hopper dome and the generator shell and its inner margin secured between flanges on the hopper rim, provides a pressuretight seal between the hopper and the generator shell.

The third point of support for the hopper is shown in Fig. 4. A piston 33 is slidable in a vertical cylinder 40 carried by the generator shell, and the underside of the flange ring 25 rests on this piston. The cylinder 40 is part of a tube 42 which passes through the shell, and is provided with a filling and adjusting piston 43 and a weight-calibrated pressure gauge 44.

The feed hopper B is conical and converges to feed opening 5% at the bottom, and provided with a valve 52 having a stem 53 slidable in a tube 54 centrally mounted in a cylindrical casing 55 supported by legs 58. The bottom of the casing 55 is closed by a diaphragm 56, on which the valve 52 is mounted. Differential springs 57 in the casing hold the valve in intermediate position. One of the legs 58 is hollow, and connected to a hose 59 which is vented to the atmosphere.

For manually closing the valve 52, as shown in Fig. 7, a cam 62 is mounted in position to engage the bottom of the legs 58 which support the casing 55, and lift the entire feed control unit assembly. The cam 62 is mounted on a shaft 64 which extends outside of the generator shell and is provided with a crank handle 65.

Below the feed opening 50, the hopper B has secured thereto and depending therefrom a collapsible feed tube 7 0, which keeps moisture away from the feed control, and also serves as an automatic low Water carbide shut-off. The tube 70 is pinched shut by a yoke 71 on a shaft 72 journaled in the generator shell and having a counter- Weighted crank arm 73 connected by a chain 74 to a float lever 75. An external handle 76 is also provided for manual operation.

The float L has a lever 77 connected to the water shutoff valve P shown in Fig. 9 to insure that water in the generator will never reach a level high enough to enter the carbide hopper. As added protection this valve is designed to close in either the upper or lower position of the float, providing protection even in case the float fails. Fig. 9 shows the valve closed in the lower position of the float. The float lever 77 is connected to the valve piston 78 through a short link 79. As the float approaches the center of its travel, the piston is pushed open allowing the flow of water. Conversely, as the float approaches either the upper or lower position the valve piston is pulled closed. The valve opens against the water pressure so that in any case of parts failure the valve should fail safe.

{D The water filling connection on the outside of the Water shellis provided with a manual shut-oil? valve 80. Residue is drained by a valve 82 to a sump or pit.

The hydraulic back pressure valve shown in Fig 10 provides for checking the water level or adding water while the generator is in operation. Acetylene enters the hydraulic tangentially through the inlet 83, travels upward through the Water, past the baflles 84 through the filter 85 and out the outlet 86. Connected through the bottom of the hydraulic is a quick-disconnect fitting 87 through which water may be added or drained. A stand tube 88 is fastened to the quick-disconnect and terminates at the proper water level. By engaging the quick-disconnect, water is forced out until it reaches the proper level. If the water level is low, more can be added by connecting a water hose.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for generating gas, which comprises a gas and liquid-tight shell for maintaining a confined body of liquid and a quantity of gas confined thereabove, a hopper above said body of liquid for continuously supplying dry gas-forming material by gravity to said body of liquid, a cover for said hopper comprising a dome having a charging opening at the top and a rim at the bottom secured to the generator shell, said hopper having a conical bottom with a rim at the top and converging downwardly to a feed opening, a floating mounting for said hopper bottom comprising a resilient gas and liquid tight diaphragm having its outer margin secured between the rims of said dome and shell, and its inner margin secured to the rim of said hopper bottom, a pressure responsive element engaging the underside of said hopper rim, and a pressure gauge responsive to said element and calibrated in weight 01 hopper contents.

2. Apparatus for generating gas as claimed in claim 1, in combination with a resilient feed tube connected to said hopper feed opening, a handle outside said generator shell, and means actuated by said handle for collapsing said feed tube in any position thereof in its travel with said floating hopper bottom.

3. Apparatus for generating gas, which comprises a gas and liquid tight shell for maintaining a confined body of liquid and a quantity of gas confined thereabove, a hopper above said body of liquid for continuously supplying dry gas-forming material by gravity to said body of liquid, said hopper having a conical bottom with a rim at the top converging downwardly to a feed opening, a floating mounting between the outer rim of said hopper and the inner rim of said generator shell, a pressure responsive element engaging the underside of said hopper rim, a pressure gauge responsive to said element and calibrated in weight of hopper contents, a valve for said feed opening having a stem extending vertically into said hopper, a bellows mounted inside said hopper and below said rim and connected to said valve stem, and a conduit connected to said bellows and passing through a sliding mounting in said hopper bottom and connected to a tube passing through said generator shell into communication with the atmosphere.

4. Apparatus for generating gas as claimed in claim 3, in combination with a handle outside the generator shell, and means actuated by said handle for lifting said bellows relative to said hopper for manually closing said valve.

5. Apparatus for generating gas, which comprises a gas and liquid tight shell for maintaining a confined body of liquid and a quantity of gas confined thereabove, a hopper above said body of liquid for continuously supplying dry gas-forming material by gravity to said body of liquid, a floating mounting between the outer rim of usaid hopper and the inner rim of said generator shell, a

pressure responsive element engaging the underside of said hopper rim, and a pressure gauge responsive to said element and calibrated in weight of hopper contents.

6. Apparatus for generating gas, Which comprises a gas and liquid tight shell for maintaining a confined body of liquid and a quantity of gas confined thereabove, a hopper above said body of liquid for continuously supplying dry gas-forming material by gravity to said body of liquid, a cover for said hopper comprising a dome having a filler cap at the top forming a charging opening and a rim at the bottom secured to the generator shell, a floating mounting between the outer rim of said hopper and the inner rim of said generator shell, a pressure responsive element engaging the underside of said hopper rim, a pressure gauge responsive to said element and calibrated in weight of hopper contents, a charging hopper having a conical bottom provided with an axial socket receiving said filler cap, said socket having a shut-oil valve with an annular gasket therebelow, and springpressed pins below said gasket, said filler cap having a rim engaging said gasket, and an annular groove receiving said pins to hold said rim in engagement with 'said gasket.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 931,293 Goodyear Aug. 17, 1909 1,148,496 Brad-en Aug. 3, 1915 1,202,872 Michael Oct. 31, 1916 2,370,630 Baker Mar. 6, 1945 2,385,087 La Force Sept. 18, 1945 2,456,278 Hill Dec. 14, 1948 2,480,292 Hooper Aug. 30, 1949 2,519,471 Hooper Aug. 22, 1950 2,533,117 Johnson Dec. 5, 1950 2,579,776 Allen Dec. 25, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,463 Great Britain of 1907 

5. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS, WHICH COMPRISES A GAS AND LIQUID TIGHT SHELL FOR MAINTAINING A CONFINED BODY OF LIQUID AND A QUANTITY OF GAS CONFINEDD THEREABOVE, A HOPPER ABOVE SAID BODY OF LIQUID FOR CONTINUOUSLY SUPPLYING DRY GAS-FORMING MATERIAL BY GRAVITY TO SAID BODY OF LIQUID, A FLOATING MOUNTING BETWEEN THE OUTER RIM OF SAID HOPPER AND THE INNER RIM OF SAID GENERATOR SHELL, A PRESSURE RESPONSIVE ELEMENT ENGAGING THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID 